His-tory:
Born in the heart of Los Angeles, Marco came into a music loving family and grew up listening to a variety of classic music from the 1920’s all the way to the 60’s. He first started playing music at the age of four. As the years passed he learned to play the keyboard and guitar, and then it was in the fifth grade that an elementary school crush inspired him to play the saxophone. He wanted to start playing right away, but his parents needed to save up in order to buy him his first saxophone. In the meantime, he learned how to play the French Horn in the first months of the sixth grade. It was the only way he could stay in the band program. During this time he was pulling double duty, learning both the French Horn and sax fingerings by sitting behind the saxophone section during band class. Most days, Marco would offer to put away some of the other kids' saxophones so that he could have a few minutes to run his fingers on the sax and apply the things learned in the lessons.
Four months into the sixth grade, Marco received a giant brown box from the UPS Man. Inside he found his first saxophone. A Yamaha YAS-23. From the moment he put it together and played it for the very first time, he was able to play along with The Glenn Miller Orchestra on his favorite AM radio station, Stardust 910. His notes weren't always spot on, but he gave it his best and was determined to play like these musicians one day. The very next day, he gladly carried that wretched French Horn case to school for the very last time and it was the start of a beautiful relationship with his Yamaha saxophone. He quickly advanced on the sax and within a few weeks caught up to the rest of the kids. By the beginning of the 7th grade he had made it into the advanced band. Throughout high school he spent his hours after school with friends performing in a band called Z Heavy Catz. Hours were spent learning songs by Stevie Wonder,Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind and Fire and Tower of Power. In 2002 after attending a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert, inspiration struck him and his best friend William Pattinson. Later that Fall he became one of 3 founding members of PHAT CAT SWINGER, a 9 piece swing band. The rest is history! ;)
Four months into the sixth grade, Marco received a giant brown box from the UPS Man. Inside he found his first saxophone. A Yamaha YAS-23. From the moment he put it together and played it for the very first time, he was able to play along with The Glenn Miller Orchestra on his favorite AM radio station, Stardust 910. His notes weren't always spot on, but he gave it his best and was determined to play like these musicians one day. The very next day, he gladly carried that wretched French Horn case to school for the very last time and it was the start of a beautiful relationship with his Yamaha saxophone. He quickly advanced on the sax and within a few weeks caught up to the rest of the kids. By the beginning of the 7th grade he had made it into the advanced band. Throughout high school he spent his hours after school with friends performing in a band called Z Heavy Catz. Hours were spent learning songs by Stevie Wonder,Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind and Fire and Tower of Power. In 2002 after attending a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert, inspiration struck him and his best friend William Pattinson. Later that Fall he became one of 3 founding members of PHAT CAT SWINGER, a 9 piece swing band. The rest is history! ;)
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Every body do the Phat Cat Boogie!
Meet: Marco Palos on Sax
Marco specializes in a style he likes to call "dirty sax." Much to the likings of his hero Sam Butera or the stylishly dirty Earl Bostic, Joe Houston and Louis Jordan, Marco brings back that gritty soul and passion once felt by select sax players from the early to mid 1900's. He's built quite a reputation for this style and it has brought him to perform with numerous artists including, but not limited to:
* The Coasters
* The Bobbettes
* The Flamingos
* Los Lobos
* Marshall Lytle (The Original Bassist of Bill Hayley and The Comets)
* Danny & The Juniors
* Big Sandy & His Flyrite Boys.
* 50's Sax Honker - Big Jay McNeely
Acting credits include music videos with:
* Christina Aguilera (Candyman)
* The Jonas Brothers (Love Bug)
* Snow Patrol (In The End).
You can hear his saxophone in the recent releases by:
* Louis Prima Jr - Return of the Wildest
* The Jive Aces - King of the Swingers
* Phat Cat Swinger - Swing in Evolution
* Ashley Kingman - Guitar Blasters, Vol. 1.
* The Kid & Nic Show - Where You Are There You Is
If you browse through Marco's music collection you will find artists ranging from Nat King Cole to Daft Punk, Coldplay, Zac Brown Band, Trio Los Panchos, Lenny Kravitz, Earl Bostic, Bruno Mars, Sam Butera, Wynone Harris and so many more... Anything with a good beat, catchy riff, and a little bit of dirt and soul is where he finds his groove! His influences include the music, showmanship & playing of Sam Butera, Louis Jordan, Lee Allen, Charlie Parker, Cannonball, Red Prysock, Dexter Gordon, Bobby Darin, Louis Prima, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and any artist who played from the heart and not just the notes on a page.
When asked about his favorite memories in music, Marco says that being invited to play the Playboy Mansion in 2009 with Phat Cat Swinger, Touring 6 European countries in one month as his first Euro-tour in 2010, his first New Orleans trip with Louis & The Witnesses and their recent performances on Access Hollywood Live are among his favorite memories so far. You can't forget the 2012 Winter Dance Party, where Marco was the house Saxophonist for all headlining bands paying tribute to the lives of Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. This anniversary happens to fall on his birthday every year. "Best birthday... ever," Marco says. He'd love to write a book sharing all of his experiences someday. But for now he says to stay tuned for more stories from the road in the future "Blog" section of the website.
"I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to make and share music with people on a daily basis. As long as I can keep making people smile and help them escape to a happier place, I will keep on performing till my body no longer lets me stand."
Visit: www.MarcoOnSax to see more and connect with Marco.
* The Coasters
* The Bobbettes
* The Flamingos
* Los Lobos
* Marshall Lytle (The Original Bassist of Bill Hayley and The Comets)
* Danny & The Juniors
* Big Sandy & His Flyrite Boys.
* 50's Sax Honker - Big Jay McNeely
Acting credits include music videos with:
* Christina Aguilera (Candyman)
* The Jonas Brothers (Love Bug)
* Snow Patrol (In The End).
You can hear his saxophone in the recent releases by:
* Louis Prima Jr - Return of the Wildest
* The Jive Aces - King of the Swingers
* Phat Cat Swinger - Swing in Evolution
* Ashley Kingman - Guitar Blasters, Vol. 1.
* The Kid & Nic Show - Where You Are There You Is
If you browse through Marco's music collection you will find artists ranging from Nat King Cole to Daft Punk, Coldplay, Zac Brown Band, Trio Los Panchos, Lenny Kravitz, Earl Bostic, Bruno Mars, Sam Butera, Wynone Harris and so many more... Anything with a good beat, catchy riff, and a little bit of dirt and soul is where he finds his groove! His influences include the music, showmanship & playing of Sam Butera, Louis Jordan, Lee Allen, Charlie Parker, Cannonball, Red Prysock, Dexter Gordon, Bobby Darin, Louis Prima, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and any artist who played from the heart and not just the notes on a page.
When asked about his favorite memories in music, Marco says that being invited to play the Playboy Mansion in 2009 with Phat Cat Swinger, Touring 6 European countries in one month as his first Euro-tour in 2010, his first New Orleans trip with Louis & The Witnesses and their recent performances on Access Hollywood Live are among his favorite memories so far. You can't forget the 2012 Winter Dance Party, where Marco was the house Saxophonist for all headlining bands paying tribute to the lives of Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. This anniversary happens to fall on his birthday every year. "Best birthday... ever," Marco says. He'd love to write a book sharing all of his experiences someday. But for now he says to stay tuned for more stories from the road in the future "Blog" section of the website.
"I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to make and share music with people on a daily basis. As long as I can keep making people smile and help them escape to a happier place, I will keep on performing till my body no longer lets me stand."
Visit: www.MarcoOnSax to see more and connect with Marco.
